2008 in South Africa
Encyclopedia
January
- 12 January – Jackie SelebiJackie SelebiJacob Sello Selebi is the former national commissioner of the South African Police Service, and a former president of Interpol. In January 2008, Selebi was put on extended leave as national police commissioner, and resigned as president of Interpol, after he was charged with corruption in his...
is suspended as South Africa's National Police Commissioner as the National Prosecuting AuthorityNational Prosecuting AuthorityThe Constitution of the Republic of South Africa , created a single National Prosecution Authority , which is governed by the National Prosecuting Authority Act...
states that they will bring charges against him for corruption and defeating the ends of justice. - 13 January – Jackie Selebi resigns as president of InterpolInterpolInterpol, whose full name is the International Criminal Police Organization – INTERPOL, is an organization facilitating international police cooperation...
- The University of PretoriaUniversity of PretoriaThe University of Pretoria is a multi campus public research university located in Pretoria, the administrative and de facto capital of South Africa...
's business school, the Gordon Institute of Business ScienceGordon Institute of Business ScienceGordon Institute of Business Science is the business school of the University of Pretoria in Johannesburg, South Africa and a leading South African business school. It is located in the heart of Illovo, Johannesburg, close to the Sandton financial and commercial business hub...
, replaces the Graduate School of Management.
February
- 1 February – Simon MannSimon MannSimon Francis Mann is a British mercenary and former British Army officer. He had been serving a 34-year prison sentence in Equatorial Guinea for his role in a failed coup d'état in 2004, before receiving a presidential pardon on humanitarian grounds on 2 November 2009.Mann was extradited from...
, former British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, security expert and mercenaryMercenaryA mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, is extradited from HarareHarareHarare before 1982 known as Salisbury) is the largest city and capital of Zimbabwe. It has an estimated population of 1,600,000, with 2,800,000 in its metropolitan area . Administratively, Harare is an independent city equivalent to a province. It is Zimbabwe's largest city and its...
, Zimbabwe to Black BeachBlack BeachBlack Beach , located on the island of Bioko, in the capital city of Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, is of one of Africa's most notorious prisons.-Feared reputation:...
, Equatorial Guinea
March
- 8 March – Channel 4Channel 4Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
win a legal battle to broadcast the Simon MannSimon MannSimon Francis Mann is a British mercenary and former British Army officer. He had been serving a 34-year prison sentence in Equatorial Guinea for his role in a failed coup d'état in 2004, before receiving a presidential pardon on humanitarian grounds on 2 November 2009.Mann was extradited from...
, a former British ArmyBritish ArmyThe British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer, security expert and mercenaryMercenaryA mercenary, is a person who takes part in an armed conflict based on the promise of material compensation rather than having a direct interest in, or a legal obligation to, the conflict itself. A non-conscript professional member of a regular army is not considered to be a mercenary although he...
, interview while he is incarcerated in Black BeachBlack BeachBlack Beach , located on the island of Bioko, in the capital city of Malabo in Equatorial Guinea, is of one of Africa's most notorious prisons.-Feared reputation:...
, Equatorial Guinea
May
- 1 May – Culling of elephants to help control their population resumes after the banning in 19951995 in South Africa-January:* 10 January - General Johan van der Merwe, Police Commissioner of the South African Police Service resigns and is succeeded by General George Fivaz...
- 12 May-ongoing – Riots in South Africa have occurred due to the ongoing controversy of immigration.
July
- 6–12 July – The XXIII International Congress of Entomology is held in DurbanDurbanDurban is the largest city in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal and the third largest city in South Africa. It forms part of the eThekwini metropolitan municipality. Durban is famous for being the busiest port in South Africa. It is also seen as one of the major centres of tourism...
- 14 July – Nosimo BalindlelaNosimo BalindlelaNosimo Zisiwe Beauty Balindlela was the Premier of the Eastern Cape in South Africa from 26 April 2004 until 1 August 2008.-Firing:...
, Premier of the Provincial Government of the Eastern CapeEastern CapeThe Eastern Cape is a province of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are Port Elizabeth and East London. It was formed in 1994 out of the "independent" Xhosa homelands of Transkei and Ciskei, together with the eastern portion of the Cape Province...
and Ebrahim RasoolEbrahim RasoolEbrahim Rasool was the Premier of the Western Cape province in South Africa. He is a member of the African National Congress.Anti-Apartheid Struggle Activist:...
, Premier of the Provincial Government of the Western CapeWestern CapeThe Western Cape is a province in the south west of South Africa. The capital is Cape Town. Prior to 1994, the region that now forms the Western Cape was part of the much larger Cape Province...
are fired
September
- 12 September – Jacob ZumaJacob ZumaJacob Gedleyihlekisa Zuma is the President of South Africa, elected by parliament following his party's victory in the 2009 general election....
's corruption case is dismissed by Judge Chris NicholsonChristopher Robert NicholsonChristopher Robert Nicholson is a South African high court judge and a former cricketer, who played one first-class match for South African Universities in 1967... - 20 September – African National CongressAfrican National CongressThe African National Congress is South Africa's governing Africanist political party, supported by its tripartite alliance with the Congress of South African Trade Unions and the South African Communist Party , since the establishment of non-racial democracy in April 1994. It defines itself as a...
recalls PresidentPresident of South AfricaThe President of the Republic of South Africa is the head of state and head of government under South Africa's Constitution. From 1961 to 1994, the head of state was called the State President....
Thabo MbekiThabo MbekiThabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki... - 21 September – President Thabo Mbeki hands his letter of resignation to the speaker of the National Assembly
- 22 September – African National Congress chose deputy leader Kgalema Motlanthe to replace Thabo MbekiThabo MbekiThabo Mvuyelwa Mbeki is a South African politician who served two terms as the second post-apartheid President of South Africa from 14 June 1999 to 24 September 2008. He is also the brother of Moeletsi Mbeki...
as president until at least April, 2009, when new elections will be held. - 23 September – 11 cabinet members (Correctional Services – Ngconde BalfourNgconde BalfourNgconde Balfour is a South African politician and has been Minister of Correctional Services since 2004.Balfour was born in the Eastern Cape and completed his schooling at Jabavu High School in the town of Alice. He went on to study at Lovedale College and Fort Hare University...
; Public Works – Thoko DidizaThoko DidizaAngela Thoko Didiza is a South African politician. She became Minister of Agriculture and Land Affairs on 17 June 1999 and is currently the Minister of Public Works....
; Public Enterprises – Alec Erwin; Public Service and Administration – Geraldine Frasesr-Moleketi; Intelligence – Ronnie KasrilsRonnie KasrilsRonald Kasrils is a South African politician. He was Minister for Intelligence Services from 27 April 2004 to 25 September 2008...
; Defence – Mosiuoa LekotaMosiuoa LekotaMosiuoa Gerard Patrick Lekota is a South African politician who currently serves as the President and Leader of the Congress of the People since 16 December 2008. Previously, under President Thabo Mbeki, he served in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister of Defence from 17 June 1999 to 25...
; Science and Technology – Mosibudi MangenaMosibudi MangenaMosibudi Mangena is a South Africa politician and the President of the Azanian People's Organisation . He was the Minister of Science and Technology from 2004 to 2008....
; Finance – Trevor ManuelTrevor ManuelTrevor Andrew Manuel is a South African politician, currently serving in the Cabinet of South Africa as Minister in the Presidency in charge of the National Planning Commission...
; Deputy President – Phumzile Mlambo-NgcukaPhumzile Mlambo-NgcukaPhumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka is a South African politician who was Deputy President of South Africa from 2005 to 2008. She was the first woman to hold the position and was the highest ranking woman in the history of South Africa...
; Provincial and Local Government – Sydney MufamadiSydney MufamadiFholisani Sydney Mufamadi is a South African politician. He was Minister of Safety and Security from 1994 to 1999 and Minister of Provincial and Local Government from 1999 to 2008.-Early life:...
and Minister in the Presidency – Essop PahadEssop PahadEssop Goolam Pahad is a South African politician. He was Minister in the Presidency from 1999 to September 2008.-Early life:...
) resign although 5 stated that they would be willing to serve in the new administration in any capacity that the incoming president deems fit. Three deputy ministers (Correctional Services – Loretta Jacobus; Finance – Jabu MoleketiJabu MoleketiJabulani "Jabu" Moleketi was Deputy Minister of Finance in the Cabinet of South Africa of President Thabo Mbeki, from 2004 to 2008....
and Foreign Affairs – Aziz PahadAziz PahadAziz Pahad is a South African politician, who served as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs from 1999-2008, he currently serves as an MP for Johannseburg West Highlands.-Education:...
) also resign. - 25 September – Kgalema Motlanthe is sworn in as President of South Africa
- 29 September – GautengGautengGauteng is one of the nine provinces of South Africa. It was formed from part of the old Transvaal Province after South Africa's first all-race elections on 27 April 1994...
Premier Mbhazima ShilowaMbhazima ShilowaMbhazima Samuel Shilowa is a South African politician. A former Premier of Gauteng province while a member of the African National Congress, Shilowa left the party to help form the opposition Congress of the People, with whom he is the Deputy President...
resigns
Deaths
- 15 September – John MatshikizaJohn MatshikizaJohn Matshikiza was a South African actor, theatre director, poet and journalist.John Matshikiza was born in Johannesburg, South Africa to Todd Matshikiza and Esme Matshikiza. Todd was a renowned jazz pianist, composer and journalist. Due to apartheid, the Matshikiza family went into exile in...
, actor, director, poet and journalist, dies at the age of 53 after suffering a heart attack at a restaurant in MelvilleMelville, GautengMelville is a Bohemian suburb of Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa. It is the location of many restaurants and bars, which are mostly frequented by students from the nearby University of Johannesburg, located in Auckland Park. It is also one of the city's gay villages.The suburb was proclaimed on...
, JohannesburgJohannesburgJohannesburg also known as Jozi, Jo'burg or Egoli, is the largest city in South Africa, by population. Johannesburg is the provincial capital of Gauteng, the wealthiest province in South Africa, having the largest economy of any metropolitan region in Sub-Saharan Africa... - 27 October – Es'kia Mphahlele
- 10 November – Miriam MakebaMiriam MakebaMiriam Makeba , nicknamed Mama Africa, was a Grammy Award winning South African singer and civil rights activist....
, 76, South African singer dies of heart attack after a concert in Italy.